the wine and that which is moost subtillest and fynest to the blader and that commeth of the participation that it hath with Nitrum of saltenes And for to vse it to this effecte the colewort must not be to muche sodden ¶ Wherfore did our forefathers make difficultie to vse at their tables diuerse meates and sortes of dishes The diuersitie of meates can not be digested with one proportion of heate And so nature being troubled with indigestion of such diuersitie of meats causeth noysomnes to the stomacke and specially when it is weake ¶ Wherof commeth it that the sea is so profitable and delectable for Lazermen and such as haue the dropsie The sea prouoketh vomit and through vomiting â—â—eame and all other superfluouse humors which cause suche diseases do auoyde And so those that be infected do loue the Sea ¶ Wherefore is the Citie of Auignion rather subiect to the plague then any other place rounde about it The subtill ayer is sone infected and soone purged of the infection contrariewise the grosse ayer is not so lightly infected nor yet so soone purged ¶ Howe may the fyne and subtill ayer be knowen from the grosse and corrupt ayer The tenuitie and subtiltie of the ayer is knowen for that at the rysing of the Sunne it is soudenly heated and waxeth colde at the goyng downe therof The contrarie doth chaunce to the grosse and vitious ayer ¶ Wherof commeth it that the winter in some countries is longer then the Somer and in other cuntries the Somer longer then the winter The cause of the Sunne in the Zodiaque doeth cause mutation of the foure seasons of the yere And where the sunne continueth longest ouer the heddes of those that dwell in that region there is Somer greatest and where it is farre of winter doeth longest continewe ¶ Why is Musike more delectable in the morning then at any other tymes Bicause that all things be then in silence the sences be more lustie and waking and the minde in great moderation and temperaunce ¶ Why be fructes commonly beloued of all men For the naturall swetenes which is in them or els bicause they be of temperature hote and moyst ¶ Wherfore is the sighte aboue all the other senses mooste estemed Bycause by the sight we see the difference of all thinges Or els we may say that it commeth by the impression of Loue which taketh his first force and strength by the sighte ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue a feble sight write smaller letters then other Bicause they write their eyes beyng in a maner halfe closed and shut ¶ What is the cause that all ill factes doe discouer themselues by the eyes and the harte Bycause the eye is messanger of the harte It maie also be said that the face being tender and open to all vapors the same maie easelie be iudged and discouered by the alterations that it sheweth principally froÌ„ the hart ¶ Why be they that haue litle heades naturally more cholerike and disdainfull then others Bycause that the heate comming from the harte from whence anger riseth can not well be cooled and the Choser proceding from the blodde moued and boyling about the harte causeth heauines ¶ Wherof commeth it that by and by after we haue made water that parte by the which the Sperme and seede passeth doeth immediately retyre and waxe lesse Bycause the same part beyng emptie and voyde is incontinently fylled with ayer which cooleth the membres that it replenisheth ¶ What is the cause that man of all creatures is the wisest The purenes and subtiltie of his blodde ¶ Wherof commeth it that by thinking vpon straunge and horrible thinges our fleshe doeth quake and tremble Bycause the heate doeth retyre to the inferior and inwarde partes ¶ Howe commeth it that in the harte of a Stagge there is a bone Nature hath there placed it to serue for a staye and foundation of the continuall mouing and motion of his hart both in rest and trauell ¶ What is the cause that the blodde is redde Of the affinitie that it hath with y e Liuer which is the very seate of blod ¶ Howe commeth it that women haue more thicker blodde then men That procedeth of coldenes which is naturall to women and the propertie therof is to thicken ¶ How commeth it that in Horses Mules Asses and crowes men finde no gall All they haue galles but it is not in one proper place but disparsed throughout all the vaynes ¶ Why are they commonly leane which haue great Miltes The Milte doeth drawe vnto it muche matter and substaunce which would els turne to nourishment and fatnes ¶ Howe come heares to be placed vpon the hedde The Braine bringeth them forthe discharging it selfe of grosse vapors which comming forthe by the poores of the fleshe do waxe drie and turne into heares ¶ Why do diuerse fede vpon bones and not vpon heare Bicause of the ouermuch drynes therof ¶ By howe many waies may the braine be purged The watriche humors be purged by the eyes the melancholike by the cares the cholerike by the nose and the flematike by the heare ¶ Wherfore was man created with the face vpright towarde heauen and other beastes cleane contrarie To euery thing ought to be assigned the figure that is moost proper to his mouing as to the skye roundnesse to fyre the figure Piramidale that is to saye vpright and straight To man also bicause of his two fete the figure Diamâ—trale and Piramidale is very conuenient and mete ¶ What is the cause that the harte doeth alwaies sturre and is in continuall motion The ayer and the moost subtill spirites haue chosen the harte for their seate They beyng then so pure and subtill do seake meanes to stretch and enlarge them selues so farre as they may and to fill that which they finde to be voide which causeth the harte to moue and pant It may be said also that the harte being made as it were in a triangle forme although not perfectlie doe open shut in the lesse part and therfore it continually moueth ¶ Wherfore hath nature made the longes of al creatures lyke a sponge To receiue ayer the better for the refreshing and cooling of the harte and to driue away all hurtefull vapors ¶ Wherfore hath nature placed the harte in the middest of the stomacke To geue lyfe equally to all the members euen as the sonne placed in the middle of the heauen doeth equally geue light to all thinges ¶ Wherfore doeth it decline somewhat more to the lefte syde then to the right To temper the coldenes of the milte which is the seate of melancholie and placed on the lefte syde ¶ Howe commeth it that all those creatures which haue litle hartes be more hardie then they which haue greater In litle hartes the heate is better compacte and kepte and so by consequence the more vigorouse and of greater force ¶ Wherof commeth it that some doe dye throughe ioye and some through
bellie of a Harte Bycause the gall of a Harte is sometimes in the tayle and sometimes in the bellie ¶ What is the cause that fatte people haue litle blodde Bycause the greace and the fatnes doe consume it ¶ Wherof commeth the saying of the Auncientes that he who is wont to eate a kinde of pulse called Lentilles is for the moost part pleasaunt and amiable It is bicause that Lentilles do cause colde humors ¶ Howe commeth it that we be more gredie to eate when the North or Northeast winde doeth blowe then at other tunes That commeth of the colde of the foresaide windes which doeth vnite and holde the naturall heate together ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Florentines when they be disposed to quenche their thirste doe drinke water mingled with Uineger I will tell you Uineger beyng of his nature colde remoueth the inflamation and heate of the stomake which prouoketh thirst and so by remouing the cause the affection also is taken awaie ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Sheperds of Nuceria in Campania within the region of Italie when they meane to geld their cattell doo laie vpon their coddes thinges stupefactiue that is to saie that properly do mortifie Things stupefactiue doe thicken the vitall spirites of the membre and do alter the complexion therof so that they let the naturall heate and stop the conduictes wherby the sperme doeth descend ¶ What meane the Shepherdes of Calabria when they liste that the Ramme shal engendre a wether lambe to tye the lefte codd and when they will that it be a female to tye vp the right â–ª The male lambe is hotter then the female and therfore moost commonlye he is engendred of the right syde and the female on the lefte Binding then the left codde the sede and likewise the generatife sprite entreth the right Codd wherby he taketh heate and force which doeth soner bring forthe a male then a female ¶ What causeth the Ethiopians and Mores when they entende to gelde their cattell to cutt their vaines which be vnder the Temples The sperme and seede for the moost parte doeth descende by the vaines aboue the Temples which beyng cutt there can no maner of humors descend from the braine and so all meanes of generation are cut awaye ¶ Wherof commeth it that to gett a stomake men vse egre and sharpe thinges That is bicause all egre thinges do drie and open the stomacke which causeth the appetite ¶ What causeth that they which haue a feminine voyce be not in any great estimation or opinion among the wise Whosoeuer hath vpon him eyther member or marke or maner of doing which is proper to any other creature whatsoeuer it be he is suerly participant of the nature of the sayde creature And bycause the woman is of small practice whosoeuer hath the voyce lyke a woman is estemed of the wise to haue litle vnderstanding or knowledge ¶ What causeth the people of Boetia to haue a grosse voyce and yet lowe and seble The Boetians be slouthfull and geuen to the bellie whiche causeth the voyce to be so lowe the reason is euident bycause their vigor and strengthe is more feble receuing and gathering lesse ayer Wherfore they cannot very well moue the muscules of the stomacke and so they are the more heauie and lesse apt to labor ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which be hastie of speach are of small constancie yll conditioned and extremely cholerike All sodeine motions come of thexiremitie excesse of heate which engendreth in men this inconstancie and lightnes to promise without any performing through Colere most coÌ„monly consider not what they say ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue a shirle voyce are moost commonly enuiouse and maliciouse The sharpenes of the voyce procedeth from the sharpenes of the pipes and conduictes of the longes which riseth through drinesse and coldenes Suche be melancholike persons who beyng naturally fearefull dare neuer disclose that which they thinke ¶ Wherfore be y e Aâ—maines accustomed in their huÌ„ting to hold their breath wheÌ„ they desire to here y e noyse rustling of beasts At all times when the breth is kept in then hath the hearing greater force abrode and so consequently receiueth and comprehendeth the better that which is presented whether it be sound or noyse Moreouer blowing or breathing doth somwhat let the hearing And therfore the same being reteyned the hearing is more free ¶ But wherof commeth it that many hauing the knowledge of naturall thinges do thinke it not good to drinke after fructe and specially after Melons and Pompions Wine of it selfe is penetratife in suche sort that it easely draweth with it the vndigested fructes to the vaines where they do sone corrupt and so engender very great feuers and other lingering sicknesses ¶ ¶ What is the cause that y e gentle women of Milan to make themselues fatte doe loue and vse swete wines Swete wine doth engender grosse blood and doth easely penetrate into all the partes of the bodie and is conuerted into nourishment wherof they become so fat and of good liking Grene wine sharpe doth not the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that all they which be extreme thirstie do loue no swete wines All thinges which may ingender and enflame choler are apte to make men thirstie and suche is swete wine ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse religiouse persons which naturally are very zelouse of Chastitie do absteine from wine Wine is hote and full of vapours and therfore prouoketh lust his heat dissolueth seede and with his ventositie causeth the courage to ryse ¶ What is the cause that the Florentines â–ª after they haue put water into wine do let it rest a certein space before they drink it The more the water is mingled and incorporated with the wine the more the fume of the wine is quenched beyng reduced as it were into one body and nature Therfore after my iudgement it should be better when the wine is newe pressed to put in water then otherwise ¶ Why be the Arabians accustomed to slepe with their bodies bowing or folded It must nedes be that Nature or they which knowe his effectes haue taught them the same For sleping so folded together their stomackes doe waxe warme digest the better and there is no windines that can hinder their digestion The body being bowed as aforesaid causeth that the bely doth receiue al ventositie eueÌ„ like vnto an open purse Contrariwise y e body stretched forth maketh the belly to close shut in such sort that it can receiue no windines the belly being bent stretched forthe stuffed on euery side with bowels inward parts which causeth that the ventosities finding no place in the belly are forced to retire els wher to hinder digestioÌ„ ¶ Why do the Polonians eate colewortes to make them selues sober when they be dronke The propertie of coleworte is to send downe to the bowels the moost materiall and grosse parte of
it moueth the humors of the brayne and cannot afterwardes resolue them ¶ Why do some dye by to much Ioye Bicause the spirites do abandon and forsake the harte ¶ Why should men beware of tomuch fasting Bicause longe fasting ingendreth a heape of ill humors and causeth feblenes and lothesomnes ¶ Why is vineger very good for Cholerike persons and hurtefull to them that be melancholike Bicause it refresheth Choler and drieth melancholie ¶ What causeth the eyes to shedde forth teares Coldenes is thoccasion which naturally doeth make thicke and restraine wherby teares do procede ¶ Why haue thinges that be very swete and odoriferouse a certeine spice of bitternes Swete smelles do alwaies serche hotte places which commonly are somewhat bitter ¶ Wherof commeth it that thinges that nourishe and encrease milke do warme moderately without drying Bicause suche thinges do engendre blodde wherof milke commeth ¶ Why he all nourishing thinges perticipant with swetenes Bicause all swete thinges be very temperate ¶ Whereof commeth it that wyne in processe of tyme is of greater heate Bicause the waterishe partes do vanishe and auoyde ¶ Wherof commeth it that some wines waxe sower so sone Bicause in the vintage tyme they were replenished with superfluouse humours ¶ Why do men rather vse Sorrell then vineger against the inflamations of the intestines and Bowels Bicause that Sorrell is more moderate then vineger And whosoeuer is diseased therwithall should not vse any medecine that is sharpe or violent but rather pleasaunt ¶ Wherof commeth it that yealowe Choller is alwaies bytter and the blacke agre and sharpe Heate causeth bitternes and colde causeth sharpenes ¶ Why is the Catarre or Rewine sometime swete somtimes sharpe and sometimes salte Of a certeine mixture of the humours ¶ Why doeth the wilde Bore pisse before he doeth runne or flye awaye To dispatche him selfe of the heauines of his vrine the more swiftlye to runne ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians geue to infantes and yonge children a herbe called Abrotonum in english Sothernwood Bicause it killeth wormes ¶ How chaunceth it that scorpions do smite hurt sidewise Bicause their pricke and stinge is croked ¶ Why do men waxe pale when they be afraide Bicause the bloud flieth away and retireth to the vitall partes ¶ Why doth the sea called Mare mortuâ—m bringe forth nether plante nor fishe Through the great bitternes of the same ¶ What is the cause that a salte thing beinge heated againe waxeth bitter Bitternes commeth of adustion ¶ Why hath the Scorpion venime in her taile Bicause venime is the excrement of the Scorpion ¶ Wherfore did nature make mens eares so eminent standing out and of gristles To be more quicke of hering and to be lesse grieued when they be hurt ¶ Why cannot milke creame or curde beinge incorporated with hony Bicause hony with his vertue incisiue and abstersiue doeth let it ¶ Why doth not an arter or sinewe being cut growe againe as fleshe doeth Bicause they be spermaticke members ¶ Wherfore do the leaues of a Seruace tree fall together at one instant Bicause he hath no viscous or slimie humor ¶ Wherfore is a Baye tree alwaies grene Bicause the heate of that tree is alwaies tempered with humiditie and viscositie ¶ Wherfore is the female more imperfecte then the male Bicause she is more colde ¶ What caused Hipocrates to suffer those that had hotte and sharpe feuers to drinke wine To aide and helpe digestion and to strengthen the pacient ¶ Wherof commeth the Cotidian feuer Of the great haboundaunce of the fleame ¶ Why do the herbes called Penerâ—ial ditton and Nil cause women to haue their flowers Bicause their vertue and propertie is to open ¶ Wherfore is the meale of beanes good for y e spots in y e face Bycause it is meruailouse abstersiue and clensing ¶ Wherfore do we slepe better when we haue traueled then otherwise Bicause the spirites haue then more nede to be refreshed ¶ Wherof commeth it that sometimes we be laxatiue and sometimes to much costiue It is because of the feblenes of the vertue retentiue or through sharpe humor that vexeth and troubleth vs and the cause why we be bound procedeth of contrarie occasions ¶ Wherof commeth the Tertian agues Of yealowe choller corrupted ¶ Wherof procedeth the falling sickenes Of grosse fleame or rather of a melancholike humor which is retayned in the ventricles of the braine ¶ Wherfore did nature make the scull of the heade grosse thicke and hollowe The sâ—ul is grosse and thicke to defend the braine the better and holowe that the vapoures of the braine might issue out of the same more easelye for the head is a way through the which all the vapors of the body do passe ¶ Wherfore is not wine good for them that be growing still in greatnes Wine doth straight go into the head and children in there infansie haue the head grosser after the proportion of the reste of the body then in anye other age ¶ Why do melons cowcumbers cause men to make water That commeth of their great humiditie ¶ Wherfore is it not good to slepe with the face vpwardes Bicause it heateth the raines inflameth the bloud and not onelye the blud but the spirits also which are in the hollow vaine in y e gret arterie ¶ Howe commeth it that trees are more hard and stronge of the Northside then they are of the South and West side Bicause the North wind doth better harden ¶ Wherfore doo not those litle beastes or serpents that of the Latinists are called Cerastes brede nether in Cipres trees nor boxe trees In Cipres trees bitternes sharpnes in boxe trees hardnes is y e cause ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth the disease which PhisitiaÌ„s do cal Diabethe It is a disease in the raines and commeth of the feblenes of the same ¶ Wherof procedeth the swetenes of fruictes Of moderate heate ¶ Why do olde men doate so much Through the great colde that is in them ¶ Wherof procedeth y e lasque flux of y e bely called Dissenteria Of biting and sharpe humors ¶ Why do hearinges in so great multitudes leaue the Northerne and go to the Westerne Sea To enioie the temperature of that climate ¶ Why doth eating of y e brain of some beastes prouoke vomit Bicause y e brain is oilie swimmeth vpoÌ„ y e orifice mouth of y e stomake ¶ Why is grossest meat geuen â—uer at supper Bicause with slepe they make good digestion ¶ What is the cause that the pulse commonly called chichâ— peason doeth prouoke Lecherie By reason of the saltenes wherof the hul is participant ¶ Wherof commeth it that men to see the better do close one of their eyes Bicause the effecte and spirites of the one may helpe the other ¶ Wherof doeth it come that the higher the Sunne is the lesser is the shadowe Bicause the sunne beames do then reuerberate directly downewardes ¶ Why doth the force of wine make some to be
eloquent and some to be dombe other astonied and other freshe and lustie That commeth of the diuersitie of their complections ¶ Wherof commeth it that the leaues of certaine trees in some part of ScotlaÌ„d falling into the sea be turned into duckes and malardes By the secret vertue of the Occean Sea ¶ Wherfore do men make collers of Aumbre for children Bicause aumbre is good against the sqinance which is a swelling in the iawes throte and it is good also against a disease called of y e Phisitians Tansille ¶ Wherof commeth the Dropsie Of a great colde in the Liuer ¶ Howe happeneth it that we become balde vpon the foreparte of the hedde Bicause that part is drie and of drines commeth baldenes ¶ But why be the heares of the temples graye sooner then of any other partes Bicause the Temples are very moyst and full of muscles ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians thinke them to be of small capacitie that haue sharpe heddes Bicause the spirites fynd not the conduictes so free and open ¶ Why be there no Serpentes in Ireland Bicause that region is nothing waterishe ¶ What causeth those that haue the Iaundis to thinke hony to be bitter Bicause of the great câ—ller wherwith they haue the tongue and pallat infected ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the meates oftentimes waxe sower in the ventricle That procedeth of the coldenes of the Stomacke ¶ Why is not that ayer good which is both hote and moyst Bicause it is very subiect to be corrupted ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Aethiopians haue curld heare Of the great siccitie and drynes of their humors ¶ Why be dronken persons commonly colde Bicause wine immoderately dronken doeth cause colde effectes ¶ Wherfore is veneson more estemed and praysed of the learned Phisitians then other fleshe Bicause it is of good nourishment and engendreth good blodde ¶ Why is the white of an egge harde of digestion Through the great coldenes therof ¶ How commeth it that such beastes as haue no tethe aboue haue a double ventricle To digest the better and to supplie the default that they haue by the wante of tethe ¶ Wherfore do men drinke water and yet it nourisheth not Water causeth the nutriment to spredde throughout all the body ¶ Why is not the hande hearie within Bicause the skinne is thicke and harde ¶ Why is Autumpne so vnholsome and full of diseases Through the inequalitie of his temperature ¶ Why be the eares vnmoueable Bicause they haue no Muscles ¶ Why be no remedies conuenient to be receued in the greatest extremitie of sicknes Bicause nature should be letted ¶ Wherfore are bathes of swete water estemed Bicause they do heate and moysten and are good against tercian ague◠¶ Why doeth the Northern winde preserue thinges from putrifying Bicause it drieth muche ¶ Wherof commeth it that Buglosse tempered and dipte in wine reioyseth him that doeth eate it Bicause it augmenteth the blodde and restoreth the forces of the hart ¶ Wherof commeth it that Peone hanged about ones neckâ— doeth heale the falling sickenes That herbe sendeth certeine vapors to the hed which do drie the braine ¶ Why be stockdoues better then pigions of the douehouse Bicause they haue lesse donge and excrementes ¶ Wherof commeth it that Asur colour is pleasant to the eye Bicause in that colour is a meane of all other colours para Howe chaunceth it that although Infantes be naturally moyst are not for all that graye hedded Bicause that with their moistnes heate is conioyned ¶ Why doeth a Boare fome at the mouth when he bremeth Bicause his cundittes and generatiâ—e partes be narrowe ¶ Why doth a tame Sowe bring forthe mo Pigges then a wilde Sowe That commeth of the aboundaunce of meate and of the warmenes of the places where they liue ¶ But why can not Sowes geue milke without groning or grunting Sowes haue litle milke and the same is spred in diuerse tetes and therfore there must nedes be great force to drawe it ¶ Wherfore do we sweate more in the vpper partes of our bodie then in the lower partes The propertie of heate is to ascend and not to discende ¶ Why doeth not the dunge of wilde beastes stincke so much as other Bicause they be drie of nature ¶ Wherfore hath nature shaped a braine in liuing creatures Bicause they might easely receue and comprehend the impressions and imaginations of the thinges that they smell and vnderstand ¶ Why made nature the brayne rather colde then hotte To temper and moderate the heate of the hart for the confort and refreshing of the same ¶ Why be our eyes greater in our Infancie then when we be of more age Through the gret humiditie moistnes Wherof in like maner it coÌ„meth that we are more desirouse of slepe in our Infancie then in any other age ¶ How commeth it that mens eyes do differ so much in culler one from another Of the diuersitie of the humors wherof they be composed ¶ Wherfore is sodden water better then the colde Boild and sodden water hath lesse ventosities and is more â—lighte and subtill because the earth and heauie substaunce is separated from it ¶ Wherfore hath nature ordeined nesing in man To purge the superfluitie of the braine euen as by the cogh the milte is purged ¶ Whye doo we nese soner in the Sunne then when we be nere the fire Bicause the heate of the sunne resolueth the humor and consumeth it not but the fyre resolueth and consumeth it ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the eares of all creatures do moue except the eares of a man That procedeth of a certaine muscle which is in the Iawes and doeth let and hinder the mouing of the eares ¶ Wherof commeth it that asses do soner lift vp their eares when it will raine then at any other time Their melancholike nature causeth it the like happeneth to many other melancholike beastes to pronosticate of raine as frogs dolphines crowes and Cuckoes ¶ Why haue birdes no eares Bicause they would hinder their flying for which cause they are created and made as man is made to trauell ¶ Wherfore are the waters of marishes and pondes so euel Bicause they are so flematike in sommer they do corrupt In so much as y e finest of y e water is conuerted into vapors y e erthines doth remain ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue hollow eies doe see better then those whose eies do stand more outward Hollowe eies haue their vertue more faste and better compacte and so they see the better and further of ¶ Why do the eies of Wolues and Cattes shine in the night and not in the day The greater clerenes doth obâ—uscate and darken the lesser ¶ Wherof commeth it that when we loke and behold our self in a glasse we do imediatly after forget our fauor The Image sene in a glasse doth represent it self to our visible sight very slenderly and by a certaine reflection and therfore can not long be
stoppe and is slimie but salt doth drie and the leauen rendreth it muche lighter ¶ Why do they serue fruite after meate and not before Bicause that a full belly demaundeth swete thinges or els the heauines of the fruicte driueth downe other meates ¶ What causeth the heares of sickemen to fall Bicause the nutriment wherwith heare is nourished and enterteyned is consumed of the adust and burnt vapors ¶ Howe chaunceth it that diuerse haue neuer any beardes Bicause they haue the poores so great that the nutriment which causeth the heare is vanished before the heare hath taken roote and therfore can bring nothing forthe ¶ Wherof commeth it that in olde folke the heare of the browes groweth more then in other members Bicause in age the bones of the browes be enlarged and do open the waie to vapours ¶ Why is the water better that runneth vpon the grauell of sande or vpon the earth so that it be not stinking then that which runneth vpon the rocke or vpon stones Bicause that earth and grauell doth clense it better then eyther stone or rocke ¶ Wherof commeth it that the heare waxeth harde sharpe when one is deade Bicause the heare is no more nourished with the vapors of the bodie and bicause the powers be closed vp ¶ But wherof commeth baldenes Of corrupt â—leame ¶ Why be men sooner balke vpon the hedde then in other partes of the bodie Coldenes of the brayne is the cause ¶ Why is it that studious and learned men be so sone balde Of the great diminution and weakenes of their spirites or els of great indigestion that causeth â—â—eame to abounde ¶ Why do we sweate more sleping then waking Bicause heate in sleping is vnited and ioyned which hath more vertue to driue away all superfluouse humors ¶ Wherof commeth it that Whales Dolphines and Sea calueâ— stincke more then other beastes Bicause their seede is more moyst and waterishe and more subiect to corruption ¶ Wherof commeth it that water put into claret wine doth refreshe it more then if it be put into white wine That procedeth of the nature of the Claret wine which is colder then the white being more earthie For the white is hotter and holdeth more of the ayer ¶ Why do we counte Raine water to be the best Bicause it is better fyned and sodden in the ayer and so more proper and mete to nourishe ¶ Wherof commeth it that many are healed of a Quarteine by a soudeine feare Lyke as the quarteyne is ingendred by sodeine mutation euen so soudeine mutation doth driue it awaie for by suche soudeine accidentes our spirites be moued and all their forces awaked ¶ Wherfore are those waters better that haue their course towardes the Easte then they that runne towardes the West Bicause that by running against the Sunne they do â—yne and waxe warme and do lose of their naturall coldenes ¶ What is the cause that a beaste beyng with yonge doeth not care any more for the male Bicause that her matrix is shutte which doeth reteyne the menstruall blodde and causeth her to lese her lust of the male ¶ Wherfore do Musitians when they entend to sing and Aduocates before they pleade eate Lekes rosted in the imbres Bicause that Lekes haue a certeine slimishe moystnes that clenseth the pipe of the longes ¶ Why do women when they haue their flowers spott their glasses yf they loke very nere them That riseth of the corrupted vapours of the menstruall blodde ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue small voyces The organes of the voice in women are smal and litle and so gathering litle ayer it must nedes cause the voyce that issueth forthe to be smale and litle ¶ Wherof commeth it that deaffe folke for the moost parte do speake through the nose The Organ of hearing hath perticipations with the Longes which is the cause that deafenes doth commonly procede of to great aboundaunce of humors which remaine and soke in the Organ of hearing and consequently about the longes And when the longs are charged with humors it cannot wel forme the voice which causeth that the deaffe person forcing and strayning his voice doth send it to the cundittes of the nose Therfore yf the deafenes procede of repletion of humours the pacient shall speake through the nose ¶ Why do Phisitians geue order that meates in winter ought to be of a grosse nourishment and in Sommer fine and lighte Bicause in winter the naturall heate flying the calde and retyring into the inward partes doeth cause better digestion But in somer heate seking for heate is disparâ—ed and is not of force to digest ¶ Why doth to long watche make the braine feble To longe watthe doeth engendre and multiplie choler the which by that meanes doeth drie and extenuate vs. ¶ Why be all swete thinges stopping Bicause we take them with to great appetitite whereby considering their viscositie and slimines and that they be not digested they stoppe the vaines through the which the nourishment of the members of the bodie should passe ¶ Why be mothers more tender ouer their childreÌ„ theÌ„ fathers Bicause they haue had more paine in nourishing them bringing theÌ„ vp ¶ But why cannot the child borne in the eight moneth liue and the child of the seuenth moneth customably doth liue Bicause the number of seuen is a perfect number If the opinion of the Pithagorians be true ¶ Wherfore be the males more higher and greater then the females Bicause they haue in them more heat then the females ¶ Howe commeth it that bruite beastes in their slepe do not corrupt nor lose their sede Bicause they slepe not lying vpright or with the belie vpwardes ¶ Wherfore is it more easie for women to beare vpon their heddes and for men to beare vpon their shoulders Bicause that women hauing a burden vpon their heddes haue their bodie right vnder the burden and do beare it more easely being as it were a piller vnder a roufe The man contrarywise hauing his head of manye peces and the bodie more harde doth beare vpon his shoulders ¶ Wherfore be stele glasses better for the sighte then other glasses Bicause stele is harder and doth represent vnto vs more substanciallye the ayre that receaueth the light ¶ Wherof commeth it that vinegre doth stoppe bloud Bicause the nature therof is binding ¶ Why do womeÌ„ make water the bodie bowing not men Bicause their bladder is placed higher then the mannes ¶ Why haue women longer heare then men Bicause they be more flematike and the substaunce which should consume to engendre the bearde is conuerted into the heare of the head ¶ Wherfore be women more tender and smothe then men Women do pourge themselues of all superfluous humors by the flowers and so all the substaunce that might ingender heare is taken away by the same reason women blede very seldome at the nose nether are they subiecte to fistulaes nor impostumes ¶ Why do those women that be
Wherof commeth it that those Creatures which are without heades for a certeyne season do not slepe It is bicause that slepe commeth from the hedde ¶ But why is that water which is sonest hott and sonest cold better then other water Bicause it is more subtill and more lighte ¶ Wherfore is the well water better then that which passeth by the mines of Leade Water hath alwaies the nature of the place where it passeth taking then the vertue of Leade which is abstersyuâ— or skowring it fretteth and hurteth the guttes and therby must nedes endomage the bodie The like is not in waters that runne by mines of golde and syluer for they comforte the bodie ¶ Wherfore is ouer great exercise or labor euill for the sight Bicause it drieth the blodde to muche ¶ Why do some beastes bring forth many yonge ones and other not so That is according as they haue bellies and receptacles for the seede ¶ Howe commeth it that men slepe better and soner on the righte side then on the lefte Bicause beyng awake he doeth leane and rest more vpon the lefte syde then vpon the right ¶ Wherfore hath Nature made the heddes of fishes so great in comparison of the rest of their bodie Bicause they may plonge them selues more easely into the bottome of the water ¶ Wherof commeth it that a flower which is brused hath not so good a smell as otherwise Bicause the earthie parte is by that meanes mingled with the swete smell and so doeth alter it ¶ Howe chaunceth it that figges which are swete and tender do neuerthelesse cause tothe ache Bicause they cleaue to the gommes through their viscositie â—limines ¶ What meaneth it that Gotes be euermore in an Ague That procedeth of their extreame heate which is nothinge els but a very Ague ¶ Why do we esteme Gotes milke to be better for our stomacke then any other Bicause the Gote taking his nourishment rather of wodde boughes then of grasse causeth his milke to be the more thicke and lesse slimie ¶ Howe commeth it that Cowe milke is more medecinable then other milke Bicause a Cowe being a great eating beast doth feede not onely vpon grasse but also vpon all sortes of grene herbes ¶ Wherfore is the milke of Shepe sweter then other Bicause it is fatter and albeit that it doeth fatten yet it is noysome to the stomacke ¶ Why is the blod of a Bull hurtfull to them that drinke it Bicause it is very fatte and full of threddes and soone waxeth harde â—â—gendring therby hurtefulnes ¶ Why do al beastes refuse to eate of any thing that a Beare hath blowen vpon or smelt vnto â–ª Bicause the blowing or smelling of a Beare is pestiferouse ¶ Wherof commeth it that among beastes some do soner followe their dâ—mmes then other That coÌ„meth bicause some sone some late do receiue knowledge to do it ¶ Why be gardens watered eyther late in the euening or rathe in the morning That the heate of the sunne may not sodenly drie them and consume the moystnes of the herbes ¶ What is the cause that euery sound or voyce is more sharpe towardes the ende then at the beginning Bicause the voice then waxeth more fâ—oble ¶ For what respect be they fearfull that dwell in hotte countries and they strong which dwell in colde countries Colde doeth restraine and thicken the fleshe which causeth the heate to be better gathered and compact within Why do olde men when they will beholde a thinge holde it somewhat farre of from their eyes The light of olde men is small grosse and troubled and hath nede therfore to be sharpened and there must be betwene their eye and the thinge which they will beholde some light to ayde their sight which causeth that they holde a space of that which they would beholde and see ¶ Wherfore be they that haue their eies rolling and tourning and their sight sterne deceuors theues and of hotte nature Deceipt and theft procede of the subtiltie of the minde and the subtiltie of the minde commeth of the subtiltie of humors caused of heate that causeth the eies to wander and the sight to be sterne ¶ Wherof commeth it that if one be dronke with to muche grene or newe wine and afterwardes drinke swete wine vpon the same the wine doeth him the lesse hurte Grene and sharpe wine remayneth longe in the stomacke and doth trouble it and by his heat pearceth the braine wherby it doth inebriat man the soner but swâ—te wine through his viscositie doth stop y e cundites wherby the vapors fumes of the grene sharpe wine shuld ascend to the braine Howe chaunceth it that the hed is worse at ease when one hath dronke tomuch wine mingled with water then when he hath dronke to much pure wine vnmingled It commeth of this that the pure wine doth digest better and so his fumosities do not offende the head wheras the wine mingled with water penetrating the substaunce of the braine can with great difficultie be dissolued Therof also it commeth that they which trauell much drinke more and be lesse dronke then they that be Idle and if perhaps they be dronke they waxe soner sober ¶ Wherof commeth it that to muche drinking of wine doth alter the bellies of those that are melancholike They that be melancholike are drie of complexion and therfore their bellies beyng moystned with wine are more laxatiue Or els the wine fyndeth in the bodies of melancholike persons many vndigested humors whoÌ„ it resolueth and digesteth throughe his heate and beinge so resolued and digested he sendeth them to the guttes and inwarde partes ¶ Wherof commeth it that they whiche are leane do many tymes dye with to much drinking of olde and strong wines And they that are fat by reason of the wine do sone waxe leane The slender bodie hath but litle heate and substanciall moistnes in it Neuertheles it semeth straunge vnto me that those which be fatte consuming by vertue of the wine their naturall moystnes can in the ende waxe leane ¶ Wherof commeth it that the eyes of dronkardes doo still water That procedeth of the humors that the wine hath engendred in the brayne wherof feling it selfe laden it sendeth the same agayne to the eyes which of their nature are full of poores ¶ Wherof commeth it that oftentimes the heares do waxe graye by reason of sickenes and doo fall away and beyng recouered againe do become blacke as they were before They that do affirme sickenes to be a kinde of age which commeth at the appoynted time and that age is a perpetuall disease of Nature haue iudged well knowinge that in dede they bothe procede of the great superfluitie of humors whiche hinder the digestion which being corrupted through the outwarde heate causeth the heare to waxe graye but retourning to health and recouering his fyrst strength the bodie also must nedes chauâ—ge wherby the heare commeth againe to his fyrst estate ¶ Wherof commeth
them selues Loue doeth laugh at such periuries Louers therfore desirouse to serue there god do sweare continuallie Or els it procedeth of a certein lightnes caused of diuerse thoughtes which doe rise in their mindes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that men leaue not to loue a woman although through age or some other accident or chaunce she waxeth ill fauored and foule That commeth of Loue which is blind and being blind can not know or iudge the imperfections of other But howe should he take knowledge of that which he can not blame And howe can he blame that which he is constrained to embrace and wholie to pursue ¶ From whence cōmeth it that moost comenlie we be geuen feruentlie to loue not those onely of whom we neuer receiued pleasure but those also whom we neuer sawe Euerie one beareth the Image of his minde in his face and therof may bee gathered some signe or token of the witt and nature of the person by meanes wherof we maie coniecture whervnto she is most enclined which is the verie spring and beginning of naturall amitie or hatred ¶ Howe chaunceth it that diuerse men can not obteine the grace and fauour of their Ladies although they doe serue them honor them and adore them Bycause as Aristotle saithe there is nothing in them worthie to be beloued But what man is he so voide of Natures grace but hath somewhat in him worthie of Loue. ¶ But what is the cause that some Suters be better beloued of their Ladies then other some The Ladie enriched with beautie and good maners is like vnto the sonne that doth euerie where equally extend his beames which notwithstanding are receiued vnequallie of some more of some lesse after their capacitie The sterres also therin doe beare some rule so that after the saying of Diogenes the Stoique the signes comune to two persons that is to saie vnder which the one and the other shalbe borne and those signes agreing do cause the willes of the same two persons to be ioyned vnited ¶ Why be these little and pretie angers and fallinges out which chaunce amonges Louers the refreshing and renewinge of Loue That shall euer be bycause Loue is like a flame that will goe out and dye yf it be not blowen and oftentimes moued Or els we may well saie that the more the thing which we desire is denied the more we desire it ¶ Wherof commeth it that we be ashamed to comunicate to other our desire and lust to the combat of Loue and of other appetites and desires as to drinke eate slepe and such like we be not ashamed Bycause that the same carnall affection is not so necessarie nor so profitable for this life as the other appetites be ¶ Wherof commeth the diuersitie of weapons wherwith Loue is wont to wounde men and women fishes birdes and other foure foted beastes Of the diuerse nature of thinges that he assayleth ¶ You will say that beautie fayling loue decreaseth I wold say yea bycause Loue is no other thing but a desire of beautie ¶ Wherof commeth it that a man being touched with loue can not ridde him selfe of that passion by any dexteritie policie or witte Loue is a certeine estate and plight that doeth wrappe and folde the minde of man and with a certeine swete mocion doeth transport him into the thing by him desired This affection riseth by the contemplation and iudgement that he hath of beautie which causeth him to conceiue in his sprite and minde suche admiracion and desire that whether he will or no he is caught in the Ginnes and nettes of Loue. ¶ Why doe the newe maried vse roquet and muske when they go to bed with their new maried wiues Bycause such thinges doe prouoke luste and engendre seede ¶ What reason haue certeine people of the North partes to seeth with water a certeine stone called Gagates causing their spouses before they lye with them to drinke therof That is to knowe whether they haue made any faulte or not before For the propertie of that Stone is soudenlie to force them to make water that haue indured and suffred the act of man ¶ Howe commeth it that yf a man geue him selfe to much to the sporte and plaie of Loue the same doeth diminishe the pleasure therof Bycause the seede being sore diminished is but a certeine waterishe matter of no great heate which can not yelde any great pleasure ¶ What is the cause that women which be of verie hote Nature cannot conceiue Great and vehement heate doeth distroie and corrupt the seede and therfore they which be verie hote are comenlie fructeles and barren ¶ Why doe some women loue men that be blacke and some other those that be faier and well collored Women of feble sight loue them that be blacke because blackenes doeth ioyne and vnite the sight to much disparcled and by this meanes doeth comforte the same Or els we may well saie that euerie thing doeth loue and desire his like They therfore which be hote of nature loue them that be blacke bycause they be more prone to heate Other which be of colder nature doe loue them that be white because they be of colde complexion the mother of whitenes ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient compared Loue to dronkennes For nothing elles but bycause it maketh men which before were colde heauie and couetous iustie and liberall ¶ Why were Oysters consecrated by the auncient to Venus Bycause Oysters doe prouoke lecherie ¶ Wherfore doe not common harlotes conceiue or yf they doe it is verie seldome The diuersitie of the seedes doeth lette conception and causeth that the same can not be reteined ¶ What meaneth it that the purse of Cupido is tyed with a Leke This prouerbe doeth declare that Loue is liberall and fyndeth no let to put his hand in his purse ¶ Which is greatest the hurt or profite that commeth of loue He that doeth not loue of him selfe estemeth the losse to be greater then the proffet ¶ Thinke ye that Loue hath iudgement or no Howe can he with iudgement cause Louers daylie as euerie man may see to fall into suche enormities ¶ Wherof commeth it that for the moste part the children which maried women doe borrowe or which be nor lawfullie begotten commonlie called Bastardes do resemble more their husbandes then those that be legitimate or lawfullie by them begotten The reason commeth of an Imagination that they haue to be soudenlie taken or espied of their husbandes And so their husbandes be alwaies in their fantasie for it semeth to them that they be continuallie before their eyes and that they saie vnto them what doest thou thou shameles whore Is this thy assured promis made vnto me at the mariage daie ¶ Wherfore be Bastardes for the moost part of better corage and more lyuelie then lawfull children That procedeth of a more ardent force and vertue of him that doeth beget them for man is more earnest in that acte when it is secretlie committed and done in
sorrowe Great Ioye doth choke the interior partes and heauines doeth extinguishe and coole them so that life can not endure where heate lacketh ¶ Wherof commeth it that Mermalade of quinces taken before the repast doeth binde and close vp the belly and taken after the repast doeth vnbinde it Through his great stiptisitie or costifnest it closeth the nether partes of the ventricle and if it be taken after repast it closeth the superior partes of the stomake which being shut the meates be constrained to auoyde by the inferior parte ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the Radishe rote doth greatly ayde helpe digestion and yet of it selfe almost can not be digested The Radish is compound made of diuerse qualities The more subtill partes therof are very proper and mete to cause digestion Thother which are grosse be contrarie to heate and so let digestion ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Cholerike complexions doe sonest atteine to berdes For their great heate and bicause they haue the poores large and wide ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue curlde heare and some other smothe and streight The curlde heares do procede of the aboundaunce of heate which euidently may be sene in Mores and Ethiopians who for the moost parte haue curled heare And playne and streight heare commeth of humiditie which through his heauines doeth draw the heare downewardes ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue their priuie partes heary and not their visage nor breste In the nether partes is more moystnes aswel by reason of the bladder as of the Matrixe there is also great resolutions of vapours which cause heare to growe ¶ But howe commeth it that heare doth also growe in them that be hanged They be continually in the Sunne and all the humors of their bodie doe resolue into vapors which causeth the heares to encrease and growe ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue harshe and harde heare and other softe The softe heare doeth come of the litle pooers and the stiffe and harde doeth procede of the greatnes of the pooers for this cause women haue their heare more fyne and softe bycause their naturall colde doth restreine and make their pooers lesse ¶ Wherof doeth it come that they which be bashefull and shame faced ware redde and yet they ought rather to be pale bicause shame is a kinde of feare Shame is a certeine affection mingled with angre and feare for we be angrie many times as well against our selues as against other when we see a thing discouered that we would should be kept secrete Angre then in that conflict doeth ouercome feare and so the blodde often mouing in and out stayeth at length in the vpper parte vntill the motion of the spirites be appeased ¶ Wherof commeth it that in a maner al they which in their youthe be to fatte do dye sodenly The vaines of suche people be to narrowe and they are so pressed and as it were bounde together with fatnes and greace that the ayer and the spirite cannot freely passe Wherof it commeth that the naturall heate hauing no refrigoration of the aier of very force doth mortifie extinguish ¶ What causeth yonge men sooner to haue an appetite then olde men It is bycause they be of a hotter complexion ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians forbid vs meates that be to hotte Bicause they burne the blodde and do dispose it to Leprosie ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue no beardes Bicause that substaunce which should conuert into the bearde doeth turne into the heare of the heade ¶ Wherof commeth it that Infantes and children for the moost parte do resemble their mothers notwithstanding after the opinion of many Philosophers the action and dede of generation is not of the woman That commeth of the ymagination of women ¶ What meaneth it that Garlike and Onions although they be not in the ground do sprowte and growe That is of the great aboundaunce of the humors that they haue ¶ Wherof commeth it that studie is noysome and hurtefull after repast Natural heat can not trauel both in digestion speculation at one instant Wherof commeth it that when the stomacke is grieued all the bodie languisheth The stomacke hath certeine aliaunces with the harte the brayne and the Liuer which are the principall partes of the bodie ¶ Wherof commeth it that some do thinges beste with the right hande and other some with the lefte That procedeth of the heate that commeth from the harte which maketh that syde more apte and mete vnto labor whervnto it hath his principall accesse ¶ Howe chaunceth it that all kindes of creatures be more leane in the beginning of their youth and when they be olde then in their middle age Before olde age naturall heate is in his greatest force and strength which dissolueth the fatte Olde Creatures be neuer fatte and if they be their fatte is as nothing through their great colde and drynes for the faâ—te is sustained and nourished with moistnes and heate ¶ Whereof commeth it that they which haue the hicket by retaining their breth do ease them selues of it The blowing and breth retained doeth heate the interior partes of the bodie and the hicket procedeth of nothing els but of colde ¶ Why do olde people nese with great difficultie Because their conduictes be very straight ¶ Why doeth wine mingled with water cause vomit Mingled wine is noisome to the stomacke and doeth weaken the vertue retentiue contrarywise pure wine doth comforte it ¶ Whye be they so subiecte to sickenesse that loue to drinke stronge and mightie wines Stronge wine excessiuelye dronke doeth extinguishe naturall heate and the liuor being therewith weakened cannot engendre good bloud but doeth rather ingender a certaine aquositie and waterishnes that conuerteth it selfe into a dropsie ¶ Why be not yonge children so thirstie and drye as men of greater age The moistnes of yonge children doeth kepe them from being thirstie For thirst is nothing els but a desyre of moistnes whervpon they that be of greater age be naturally more drye and therefore more thirstie ¶ Whye doeth the dronken person thinke all thinges which he seeth do runne and tourne round That commeth bycause the spirites seruing to sighte be mingled with the vapors and fumosities of the wine the heate whereof causeth the eyes to be in a continuall motion and so the eye being round maketh al thinges to seme as though they turned round And if the eye were of other fashion then round the thinges he seeth would seme also to be of the same shape ¶ What might be the cause that Asses when they be yonge do seme nimble quicke and pleasaunt to loke vpon and as sone as they begin to waxe and growe then do they appere the contrarye The Asse is of nature melancholike youth is hotte and therfore liuely and pleasaunt which neuerthelesse afterwardes doeth moderate and decrease because the melancholike qualitie beginneth to augmente and the heate of youth to diminishe ¶ Whye do hennes keckle and make
all the moisture which the vine hath alreadie receaued ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it y t bread â—alted is lighter theÌ„ other notwithstanding that salte ioined to water should make it heuier The heauines of the bread commeth of the humiditie and the more it is dried the more the bread is the lighter ¶ Wherefore is not hote bread holesome Hot bread is yet full of moistnes vapors which do corrupt the bloud ¶ Why is not hot bread so white as stale And whye is olde oâ—â—e whiter then newe The vapors and moistnes of hot bread doth cause the blacknes therof by reason of y e water which doth naturally make blacke Oile also wheÌ„ it is fresh is replenished w t a certaine waterish humiditie which at length is conuerted into vapors wherby the oile y t is old is clarified made white ¶ What is the cause that when a dog beginneth to barke all other there about do followe him and do the like A dogge bicause of coller wherwith he naturally aboundeth hath both his senses and his hering very sharpe ¶ Why is not bread made of pure meale or that which is made of cleane branne estemed good All extremities are viciouse the branne bicause it naturallye dryeth to much hath no nourishment The flower of meale contrarywise causeth gret nourishment but is slimie gluing coÌ„sequently of to hard digestioÌ„ ¶ Why do grosse men and those that haue the dropsie delight to eate bread made of pelt meale It loseth the noughtie humors in grosse bodies and dissolueth the watery humor which hurteth them and is temperate betwene hot cold ¶ Why hath man longer heare then any brute beast Bicause they receue greater nutriment and also because brute beastes do often chaunge their heare which happeneth not to man except through some great hurte ¶ Wherfore do the swete sauors delight vs and the stinking offend vs Like as in tunes ther be both consonantes and dissonantes wherof the one delighteth vs thothet offendeth vs Euen so in sauors swete smelles are the concordes and agreable to our nature and stinking are the discordes and dislike vs. ¶ Wherof commeth it that aboue all other meates we loue fleshe best and that it doth profite vs most Bicause flesh doth yeld more strength replenisheth better our bodies Or els because it approcheth more nerer to our substaunce ¶ What is the cause that of wood which is white the cole is blacke and the cole being kindled dissolueth into white ashes So ofte as heate is mingled with moisture to worke his effect it ingendreth blacknes and for that cause wodde becommeth cole but when heate worketh his operation in the thing that is drie it is made white and so of cole the ashes are made or els we maie say very well that it commeth by nowe toking and nowe leauing of the whitnes with a certeine generation and corruption ¶ Wherof commeth it that howe moderate soeuer the ayer be we euermore loue better to be in the shadow then the sunne The Sunne is hotter then the shadow is colde we being then temperate of our selues are more offended with that which is moost contrary to temperature which is the Sunne Or els we may say that although we be temperate in dede yet we be euermore disposed to auoyde the heate of the sunne and so the shadowe is more agreable vnto vs. ¶ Howe commeth it that suche as haue the disease called Gonorrhea auoyde their seede without any pleasure Bicause their seede is thinner and lesse digested and their conduictes made wider ¶ Howe commeth it that they which be cholerike haue loude voyces That procedeth of the extremitie of heate ¶ What is the cause that Turpentine is commenly smelt in the vrine of those that vse it Turpentine is of a substance very subtill therfore it doth easely penetrate passe to the bladder wher the vriâ—â—ie infecteth it with his odor ¶ Wherof commeth it that saier wether beginning towards night most commonly doeth not long continue Of the inconstancie of the Moone which hath her principall domination and power in the night ¶ What meaneth it that Cranes do pronosticate faier wether Cranes do naturally feele the mutation and chaunge of the wether and accordingly goe and depart into other countries ¶ Wherof commeth it that olde men remember so well that which they haue sene and done in their youth and forget that which they learne and doe in their age Thinges lerned in youth haue already taken a certeine habitude in the person But things which they learne in age bicause their senses be weakened are easely lost and forgotten ¶ Why do men saie that to grow fast is a figure of short life Bycause the humor that causeth the growing as it is easely enlarged euen so it sone consumeth ¶ Why doe Cranes sette them selues in araye when they prepare to flye To trouble them selues the lesse in flying ¶ Howe commeth it that vnhorned beastes haue not tethe on bothe sides That commeth for lacke of the matter or substance which causeth the same ¶ Why be sodden stones more heauie then other It may be bycause the fyre hath rendred them more solide better compact ¶ Wherof commeth it that Bees are more fierce then other beastes Bicause they are of nature drie and be voyde of excrementes and other superfluities ¶ Why doe not fatte thinges sone corrupt Bycause they be replenished with ayer ¶ Why doe trees that growe in marshes dye so sone Bicause they are of great moysture and do receiue litle nourishment ¶ Wherfore can not fyre endure except it be continued and nourished Bicause of the great vehemencie and impetuositie of his heate ¶ Why did not nature create byrdes to goe vprighte accordingly as she did man Bicause they be voyde of reason and haue no care of heauenly thinges ¶ Howe chaunceth it that Nature gaue no winges to man Bicause man is not created to flye nor to walk in the ayer but vpoÌ„ earth ¶ Why do the poulces of yong Infantes beate so swiftly Bicause their heate receueth ayer without any let and are againe sodenly cooled ¶ Why do Dolphins when they appeare aboue water signifie some storme or Tempest to come Bicause at the beginning of the Tempest there doe ryse from the bottome of the sea certeine hote exhalacions and vapours which do warme and heate the Dolphins at what time they mount to seke for colde ¶ Why be the poulces of yonge people more vehement then the aged Bicause their complexion is whotter ¶ Wherfore doe aged people dye as it were without dolor and payne Bycause all their senses are debilitate and weakned ¶ Wherfore hath nature geueÌ„ the Milt to the noblest creaturs Bicause they haue nede of greater respiration and breath ¶ Wherof commeth it that beastes which liue partly on the land and partly in the water do alwaies bring forth their yong ones vpon the lande Bicause they are more participant of the earth then of the water
¶ What moued Democritus to say that the soule was made and composed of Atomi that is to saye of thinges indiuisible as those thinges be which we see in the beames of the Sunne Bicause the soule is the fountayne and spring of all our actions and those Atomi be about all other thinges moost apt to motion ¶ How commeth it that creatures bred vpon the land be straÌ„gled in the water those of the water be choked with the aier Bicause that land creatures can not breathe in the water and those of the water be â—â—uffed vp with the heate of the ayer ¶ Wherof commeth it that ouermuch fasting causeth thirst Through default and lacke of nourishment wherby natural heate doth extenuate and drie vp the bodie ¶ Why doth not fyre go out beyng couered with Ashes Bicause the same being couered hath the nourishment that it requireth ¶ What moued some of the Sages to say that death is colde and without blodde Bicause our life doeth consist of heate and blodde ¶ Wherfore is there more vnderstanding in the hedde then in any other part of the bodie Bicause the hedd is as it were the bulwarke and chief part of the body ¶ Wherof is it that among herbes and plantes some come vp and grow of the seede and other of the roote That commeth of their perfection or imparfection Wherfore do herbs trees continue loÌ„ger then other creaturs Bicause their nutritiue vertue is more lustie and do easlier find wherwith to nourishe them ¶ Why is it that the greater the creature is the longer he endureth Bicause the greater they be the hotter they be and in heate the life and strength consisteth ¶ Wherfore can not heauen be subiect to corruption Bicause it is not composed of contrary elementes ¶ Why doth feare make the harte to beate Bicause the blodde when we be afraied retireth to the inward partes and hath nede to be refrigerated and coled which thing commeth by the beating of the harte ¶ Why did nature make man high and streight of stature That procedeth of his heate which following the qualitie of fyre causeth him continually to mount and grow in height or to the ende he might with his handes applie him selfe to handie worke and hardie exploites ¶ Why can litle children neither go nor stand vpright Through the feblenes of the inferior and nether partes and by reason of the greatnes and heauines of the vpper partes ¶ Wherefore are the nightes more quiet then the daies and lesse windie The motion of the ayre is let by the coldnes of the night ¶ Wherof commeth it that men of redde complection haue more reuelations by dreames then other Bicause they be of Imagination more free and liuelye ¶ Wherefore did the auncientes vse to drinke the bloud of those that were called Gladiatores which were hurt and wounded in the combats and fence plaies Bicause they were perswaded by the Phisitians that it serued against the falling sickenes ¶ Why is breade harde of digestion Bicause it lieth longe in the stomacke besides that if it be not well baked it causeth the Liuor to fill the vaynes called by tht Phisitians Meseraiche ¶ Whereof commeth it that they which are drowned at the beginning do sinke to the bottome and afterwardes when they beginne to corrupte do rise aboue the water The bodie being partly corrupted hath many open places called vents to receiue the ayer which breaking the powers the bodie becommeth verye light ¶ What is the cause that round egges do bring forth males and they which be longe females Bicause in the round egges all the vertue is equallie deuided throughout all the extremities and in the longe egge the vertue is much extended and lesse closed and so lesse hote then the other ¶ Why is not wine good fasting Bicause it engendreth the crampe and maketh a man dull and heauie ¶ Why do Phisitians vse to touche the poulse of the right arme Bicause it is the parte that is moost hott ¶ But wherfore wil they not that the pacient holde his hand harde closed nor yet stretched forthe Bicause the Synewes and Arteries be streined the hand beyng eyther stretched or closed ¶ Wherof commeth it that Hares haue so feble sight Bicause the hare is a beaste very slepie and to much slepe hurteth the sight Or els it is of to much swiftnes for ouermuche swiftnes is hurtefull to the eyes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the pawes of a Beare are better veneson then any other part of his bodie That commeth of their continuall agitation and stirring for the Beare doeth continually walke and beate with his fete ¶ Why do Phisitians cal a disordinate appetite fames Canina the hungre of a Dogge Bicause Dogges are without measure in the appetite of eating ¶ Why do Dogges skommer with so great payne Bicause their bowell and receuing gutte is larger at that parte wher it ioyneth with the belly then it is at the place where it endeth ¶ Why are they more slepie that haue gret heds then others The greater the hedde is the more vapors it comprehendeth ¶ Why do Dwarfes loue to slepe muche Bicause great plenty of humors get forthwith into their heddes which engender in them a desire to slepe ¶ Wherfore are they moost hungrie that haue large and grosse vaynes Bicause they be of nature drye and aduâ—t ¶ What causeth them that dwell towardes the South to be lesse subiect to the falling sicknes then other people Bicause they be sound within and full of heate ¶ Wherof commeth it that the oyle of Lentils doeth heale the inflamation of the gummes Bicause it is good to take away all hotte and burning humors ¶ Why doeth the edge of a knyfe turne when one doeth cut waxe Bicause that euery agent in his accion is also pacient that is subiecte to contraries ¶ Howe commeth the humor in the eye called Glauconia which is like Cristall and hurteth the sight Eyes infected with that humor be lyke the eyes of a Ciuet and doeth come of the aboundaunce of the Christallin humor ¶ Why doeth Licorise take away thirste Bicause of his moystnes ¶ Why is the Liuer of a Wolfe medecinable for them that be diseased in the Lyuer By reason of a certeine secrete vertue in the same ¶ Why be they more hardie thaÌ„ other that haue hearie brestes Bicause they haue a boyling harte ¶ Wherfore is milke euell for the tethe and gommes Bycause of the immoderate coldenes ¶ Why doeth Lettis prouoke slepe Bicause it engendreth grosse humours ¶ Wherof commeth it that Lentilles and Colewortes be hurtefull to the sight That commeth of their crassitude and thicknes ¶ Wherof commeth it that by to much eating of Lentilles are ingendred Cankers That commeth of the melancholike blodd which Lentils do ingender ¶ Howe chaunceth it that Lions haue no marie in their bones Through thextreme heate of the saide beaste ¶ But why doeth the shining and brightnes of the moone hurte the hedde Bicause
Wherof commeth it that the milke in a womans brest soudenly decayeth yf she geue her selfe to be immoderate in luste Bicause the menstruall blodd doth not ascend to the brestes to nourishe the childe ¶ Wherof commeth it that those women that are with child of a sonne haue their right breste harder then the lefte It is because the male bredeth in the right syde and so the menstruall blodde comming to that syde to nourishe the childe maketh it more harde and styffe ¶ Wherfore hath Nature geuen vnto woman but two teates onely and vnto other Creatures mo Bicause other Creatures do bring forthe many yong ones at once and women moste commonly haue but one or two children at the moost ¶ Wherof commeth it that many times women do bringe forthe their children before their time through to muche Ioye or mirthe Great Ioye taketh away the heate of the Matrix which causeth vntimely birthe ¶ But why is the thicke and plentiful milke a token of a man childe and the milke that is cleare thin betokeneth a daughter The woman being with child with a sonne is of greater heate which thickeneth and maketh the milke to digeste contraryewise the milke of a woman being with childe of a doughter is lesse digested by hauinge of lesse heate ¶ Wherof commeth it that the milke of women whiche without respect and at all times be content to be imbrased is not good for children At that instaunt that the woman is embrased the beste and subtillest parte of the milke doeth retourne to the Matrix and to the generatiue vessâ—lles and that which is the worst remaineth in the Pappes wherby the childes fare is full slender and thinne ¶ Wherof commeth it that the milke of fayer women is not so good as of blacke women Browne women are of hotter complexion and therfore haue their milke better digested ¶ Wherof commeth the disordinate desire that women with childe haue to eate thinges that are lothesome most commonly in the firste or thirde moneth after they be conceued Suche is the appetite as the humors be which are within And bicause the humors of women with childe are corrupted it is no maruell although their appetite be without reason ¶ Wherof procede the spottes that we see many times in the Moone Of the corruptions of the earth eleuated with vapores Many learned men in Astrologie do affirme that the starres doe receiue their nourishment from the humors of the earthe ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue the falling sicknes do see nothing although their eyes be open That procedeth of the vnderstanding which is then as it were blind and the vnderstanding causeth the sight For the sight is no other thing â–ª but a certen power able to receiue and comprehend that which is presented vnto vs and to retourne it agayne when we will ¶ Why do they that are fatte liue but a litle while It is the want of blodde which by fatnes is consumed for the lesse blod 〈…〉 the more they are subiect to heate and colde and that is the cause 〈◊〉 why they be fructeles and barren ¶ Why do Phisitians appoint the bread for those that be sicke to be first tempered before it be geuen them The Leuaine hath a certeine corrupt heate in it which augmenteth feuers in suche sorte that it corrupteth the breade if there be to muche ¶ Wherof commeth it that the paste the more it is kneded the better it is It is bicause the licor the meale and the leuaine being well incorporated and the moystnes resolued the breade is more holsome and better ¶ Wherof commeth it that the outward partes of the bodie are more subieâ—t to colde then any other part of the same Bicause they are thinner and furder from the harte ¶ Wherof procedeth it that they whiche haue the ball of their eye great haue not so good sighte as they which haue it small Bicause the vertue of the siâ—ht filleth better and is closer in a litle ball of the eye then in a great ¶ What is the cause that strypes layed on with rodds do smart more then blowes with stickes Bicause Roddes do enter better into the bodie ¶ Wheroâ— commeth it that the herbes Pursline and Lettice do first coole and then warme the bodies of them that do vse to eate them Untill the digestion be made they do coole the bodie but the digestion made they chaunge into good blodde and so increase heate ¶ Why was the thinge callâ—d of the Italians Nimphae placed in the orifice of a womans matrix To be an Ornament or rather to kepe her matrix from colde and that it should serue the same as a couerture ¶ Why is the Capon better to be eaten then the Cocke The Capon leseth not his moistnes bicause he treadeth not the Henneâ—â—â— the Cocke doeth and therfore is better ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue the etique feuer or consumption do fele no paine in sickenes Euery vnequall temperature is without payne ¶ What is the cause that aâ—ter slepe we vse to stretche our selues To driue away euill vapours ¶ Why do they that haue traueled slepe better then others Bicause the spirites desire to be at reste ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that they which are dronke in beholding one thing do thinke that they see two or many That commeth of the continuall and souden mocion of the eyes proceding of the vapours and exhalacions of the wine ¶ Why is a Dronkard of better iudgement in thinges that are bitter egre salte and of euill taste then any other A Dronkard hath his tongue better seasoned with the licour and swetnes of the wine and hath more moystnes in his tongue then he that liueth soberly wherby he may the better iudge ¶ What difference is there betwene heauines in the hedde and dronkennes Heauines in the hede causeth oppilacions and stopping Dronkennes commeth of subtile vapours which trouble and mingle them selues with the Braine and the vitall spirites ¶ Why do men iudge him that hath a short arme to be fearfull and of euill disposition As the length and bignesse of the arme is a token of heate euen so the shorte arme doeth betoken colde for the propertie of colde is to shorten and restraine And as of heate procedeth hardenes so of colde commeth feare Being then in continuall feare lefte euill should happen vnto them it is no meruaile though they thinke alwaies of some euill ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue grosse chekes are of dull and harde vnderstanding Grosse fleshe commeth of grosse humors which also causeth grosse spirites and so consequently dull vnderstanding ¶ Why do they rubbe their eyes that wouldnese Nesing commeth of heate and the rubbing prouoketh heate ¶ Why do the Eagles driue away their yonge ones before they be â—ethered or fligge Bicause that without fethers they be very euill â—auored or els bicause they be very rauenouse ¶ Wherof procedeth it that most commonly a man